Working bare-handed is my normal procedure. I rarely have problems. It teaches you to be cvalm. 98% of stings I get are usually my own fault, when I squeeze a bee on a frame or between hand and tool, or something like that. When stung I usually back off for a couple of minutes and then smoke my hands and arms, and usually I can keep going without issues. Sometimes, though, the bees get upset, probably from some other reason as well (rough handling, weather) and I will put on nitrile gloves. Almost completely effective.
On the other hand, I know there are hives where I will start with nitrile gloves because I know my hives, and that at certain times of day they are ornery or it's just their nature to be a little cranky. I wear my goat skin gloves only a few times a year--moving hives, cleaning up a mess from bears or a storm, or capturing a swarm of bees where they're going to fall on me from up high, or which seems aggressive.
I like the dexterity and nimbleness of bare hands and simply puts me in tune with the hive.
It's also important to get stung 10 or more times a year, research has shown, to keep away a bad reaction.